Regarding the above, I talked with Judy Rommel and the CHD administrative team to gather information in responding to the recommendations from this report. My responses to the recommendations are as follows:
Recommendation: Further refine and communicate the repertoire of specific career options.
Response
- Continue and enhance efforts to discuss career options in the Introduction to HDFS (101) and Professional Issues (490) required courses.
- Emphasize professional opportunities through the UW-Stout student association of the Council on Family Relations.
- The Program Director is currently assessing the feasibility of developing an e-card promotion for the program to be distributed to prospective students and professionals.
- Web-site updates are planned to expand the section related to career options and jobs currently held by graduates.
- Application will be submitted Spring, 2002, for HDFS to be an approved major for the Social Work equivalency process in Wisconsin.
- Nine of ten courses necessary for designation as a Certified Family Life Educator are currently offered on a regular basis. The tenth course, Family Life Education Programs, will again be offered.
Recommendation: Enhance opportunities for continuing education and professional development.
Response
- We are discussing development of additional on-line courses (currently two) that could be used for continuing education.
- Continue to promote graduate school following HDFS graduation.
Recommendation: Advocate for broader, professional options for graduates.
- Students in Family Impact Seminar will continue to learn about advocacy and are socialized to see that as part of their professional role. This is reinforced by having students participate in advocacy behaviors (attend public meetings, write a letter to a public official, etc.).
- Faculty do serve as role models to students in their own advocacy work through national professional associates, Wisconsin Family Impact Seminars (educational seminars for Wisconsin legislators and agency personnel on family policy issues), and early brain development education and advocacy.
- Continue to promote the Women’s Study minor as a viable option with the HDFS program.